When Training More Isn’t the Answer
Are you burned out? Beat up? And still no breakthrough on race day? If you are experiencing this, then the answer to improving your performance isn’t to train more or to train harder? The answer is to shift to targeted, personalized training.
Years ago when I was new to the sport, I read an article in a triathlon magazine (that no longer exists) that talked about the average training hours that top age group athletes at the Ironman World Championship. No names were given in the article. It was just numbers. Looking at my own training hours, I saw a marked contrast. I wasn’t swimming, biking, or running enough compared to those unnamed top age groupers in that article. And since I wanted to qualify for the Ironman World Championship some day, I decided to train more. I woke up earlier and went to bed later. I neglected personal and professional life. Almost every waking moment became focused on training more to reach this goal. Can you imagine the outcome?
I was easily training 12-15 hours per week year round but the added volume wasn’t improving my performance, so I decided training intensity had to increase. Every swim was all out. Every bike ended with me draped over the handlebars. Every run ended with me sitting on the front steps exhausted. I was exhausted all the time. I started to develop GI issues. I became cranky and cantankerous. I struggled to walk up a flight of stairs without losing my breath. I neglected stretching and rolling because it cut into my training time. And every few months I would have an injury that required time off.
As age group triathletes, we must balance the demands of our training/performance goals with the reality of our lives. Neglecting our personal or professional commitments so we can train more is a great way to ruin our relationships and work life. When I finally realized that what was I was doing wasn’t good for my health or my performance, I hired a coach.
I have worked with multiple coaches over the past two decades in the sport and each time I have seen improvements. Targeted, personalized training unlocked performance gains for me. I started getting on age group podiums and qualified for both the Ironman 70.3 and Ironman World Championships. I set PRs. But most importantly I was having fun and not getting burned out.
If you find that your training is not leading to performance breakthroughs and is only leading to being burned out and beat up, then I invite you to reach out and set up a zoom call. I am more than happy to do a Training Efficiency Audit of your current training program and talk with you about the different coaching options we have available if that’s what you desire.
Reach out to me at jim at jim.rowe@playtri.com if you have any questions. Happy training and racing this year!
Jim Rowe is a Playtri Level 5 Coach and Coach Education Lead, a USAT LI Certified Coach, an NASM Certified Personal Trainer, and an Ironman and 70.3 World Championship Qualifier who works with adult athletes who are chasing PRs, moving up to long course racing, or want to qualify for a world championship. Learn more about Jim at www.playtri.com/jim-rowe.